Gun Control- Should it be Tougher and Should the Laws be Changed

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Gun control has been a thorny and painful issue for a long time, but events in the recent past have exacerbated the debate. Gun control can be defined as the laws, policies and regulations that are intended to control the sale, ownership and use of guns or firearms. Gun control has always been controversial with some people for and others against gun control, and both parties with their own argument for their position. Political leaders are now coming out to strongly voice their position on this issue, something that did not happen as often before. Ordinary citizens too have very strong opinions about gun control. Gun laws in the United Sates are found in local as well as state statutes.

Mass shootings have undoubtedly caused a massive fear of safety especially in schools and public places. It is among the chief reasons why the advocacy for gun control has escalated in recent times. The US has suffered more mass shooting s than any other country. While there are many reasons that can be blamed for mass shootings, easy access to gun ownership has played a big part. Some examples of mass shootings with the highest number of fatalities include the Las Vegas shooting in 2017 with 59 fatalities, Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016 with 50 fatalities and Virginia Tech shooting that left 33 people dead (Campion, E. W. 2017). Schools such as Sandy Hook Elementary, Columbine High School, Santa Fe High School and Umpqua Community College shootings have been the most concerning as they involve young children and young people. The schools should be a safe place for them to be, but apparently they aren’t.

Those who advocate for gun control have many points to support their stance. First is that they need to protect themselves in case of attack. This right to protect oneself is enshrined in the Second Amendment of the constitution. A second argument is that the people intent on doing harm with guns already own them, so it doesn’t hurt to have one at hand in case of an encounter. Those who are pro guns also say that gun ownership in protected by the constitution since 1791. Owning a gun does not necessarily mean that it will be used to commit a crime. After all, not all crimes such as assault involve guns, in countries such as the United Kingdom; sharp as well as blunt objects are used in crimes.

The fact that rates of murder have been on the decline since 1994 despite an increase in gun circulation also enhance this argument. Guns are not the problem (Lott, J. R. 2013). Guns are also a guarantee of equality. Guns do not discriminate based on physical strength or size. There are many more groups of at-risk people now than ever before. This includes children, old people and the disabled, and this calls for more protection. While the police have a responsibility to ensure the safety of citizens, this does not extend to them risking their lives to save someone. It is therefore an individual’s responsibility to keep themselves safe. Finally, if you can’t buy a gun, you can make one. Although the process may be difficult, it is the drive that counts.

Gun control proponents also make a compelling case. As per statistics, there were more guns in the US than actual people. This makes room for plenty of human error due to easy access. The pro gun ownership that we buy guns to protect ourselves from those who own guns beats logic. Purchase of guns has simply been turned into a competition with no rationale behind it. People who own guns usually have a high level of fear response and can cause more harm than good, hence the best thing is to limit gun ownership. Access to guns means terrorists can buy guns, even those who are on a Terror Watch List.

Gun control should also be enforced since manufacturing guns give manufacturers huge profits especially from illegal sales. While the main pro-gun argument is for self-preservation, the truth is that most gun owners actually own more than one firearm, begging the question that just how many guns do they need. The availability of guns especially after wars such as Iraq and Afghanistan means police departments are heavily militarized, giving the impression of invading armies to the citizens. Finally, gun control proponents argue that laws that are in place are only applied unevenly. Individuals with mental illness are not screened before purchasing firearms despite the fact that a disproportionate number of gun incidents are perpetrated by mentally ill people (Metzl, J. M., & MacLeish, K. T. 2015).

My view on gun control is that there definitely needs to be tougher laws in place. Guns pose a very real danger today and the recent spates of mass shootings do nothing to disprove this. Elected representatives should do more to tighten the permissive laws when it comes to gun control. While the right to keep oneself safe is enshrined in the Second Amendment, this should not be an excuse to allow senseless attacks on innocent people. Screening and background checks should be made mandatory. This country should be a safe place for everyone to live in without fear.

References

Campion, E. W., Morrissey, S., Malina, D., Sacks, C. A., & Drazen, J. M. (2017). After the Mass Shooting in Las Vegas—Finding Common Ground on Gun Control.

Kleck, G., & Patterson, E. B. (1993). The impact of gun control and gun ownership levels on violence rates. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 9(3), 249-287.

Lott, J. R. (2013). More guns, less crime: Understanding crime and gun control laws. University of Chicago Press.

Metzl, J. M., & MacLeish, K. T. (2015). Mental illness, mass shootings, and the politics of American firearms. American journal of public health, 105(2), 240-249.

Spitzer, R. J. (2015). Politics of gun control. Routledge.